In the interwar period until 1939 it served as a trade union and in 1945, following World War II, it was formally re-established as an association.

On top of its creative presence in major Polish cities, the Association operates two professional development retreats, in Ustka and in Świnoujście.

[5] It is the leading advocacy group working in conjunction with the Polish governmental agencies regulating labor laws applicable to practising art professionals.

[7] The economic nonprofit activity of the Association is geared toward generating funds necessary for the maintaining of its venues, as well as providing financial support for members in need.

[6] Regional chapters of ZPAP are located in the following cities: Białystok, Bielsko-Biała, Bydgoszcz, Częstochowa, Gdańsk, Katowice, Kielce, Koszalin, Kraków, Lublin, Łódź, Olsztyn, Opole, Poznań, Radom, Rzeszów, Szczecin, Toruń, Warsaw, Wrocław, Zakopane, Zielona Góra, and Gliwice.